Side wall sampler



Oct. 17, 1939. J. M CLINTON SIDE WALL SAMPLER Fil ed May 2a, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii/l Figures 1, 2 arid-3' show'vertical arrears p smn wan. smash i invention relates to a sample taking'ap-- paratus designed particularly for the purpose of taking asainpl e, of the formation being pierced in well drilling, irom'the side wallof .the bore 5 and for withdrawing the same to the ground surface for inspectionwithout withdrawingthe drill stem-from the'bore.

object of the invention is to provide a novel type of sample taking apparatus including a sample receiving barrel adapted to be lowered into a drill stem and :to be.project ed out laterally therefrom 'into the formation to' be "tested and which thereafter may be withdrawn through the stemto thegrou'n'dsurface-for an inspection of- I The invention latching the core, or sample, taking device in Etlie drill stem and =forthereaiter projecting. the sample receiving =barrel laterally'from the stem 80 by the pressure of an operating'fluid andfor controlling the flow .of such fluid during the operations incident to the taking of the sample and.

.thewithdrawal of-the samefrqm thewell.

a It is a further object of the invention to provide in.- cornbination with a drill .stem having a deflector. of a sample taking apparatusembodying a sample receiving barrel mounted to be deflected by said deflector into the formation at 'the side of'the bore:

features ofconstruction, operation and;arra'ngemerit. of parts, anexample of which is given in this specification and jillustrated in panying drawings, wherein: A

as l I sectional views of upper, intermediate and lower sections of the driving shaft which is connected to the lower end of the drill stem.proper.-.-

I typeof plunger employed. Y

Figure; 5 shows a cr'oss sectional view taken on the line 5 -5 .of Figure 4.

on the'line' ofl 'igure 2. Figure! showsa vertical sectional view of-the sample' taking barrel and the supporting and active posi n. d

' r'igurefl shows a vi ew-ainiilar to that'shown also embodies novel means, for

With the above-and other objects in viewth'c invention has particular relationto certain novel" the accom Figured shows "a vertical sectional view of a" Pigure .6- showsa cross sectional viewtaken I John McClinton, Houston, Tex. Application-liar 2a, issa'serial No. 209,43

in. Figure 8, showing the sample taking apparatus therein in active pos'ition.

ings wherein like numerals of rei'e'rence'designate the same-parts ineach of the figures, the numeral l designates a-tubular drill-stem, to the lower end ofr which the coupling 2 -is connected. Attached to'the lower-end of the coupling there is a tubular sectionof pipe 3- forming a.cylinder;

A shaft forming-an" elongated drill collar is attached to the lower end of the cylinder.3 bymeans of a tubular coupling 5. Attached to the Y lower endof the drill collar l there is a suitable drill 6 of any selected design. In the cylinder 3, is a tubular plunger 1 having the external pack-- ing rings 8, 8. This'plunger is-mou'nted on a strong coil spring 9 which is seated on the upper end of the coupling 5 and is confined within the cylinder 3. The upper end of the coupling 5 is reduced thus forming a tubular extension 50. which extends up into and forms a guide for the spring 9. The upper end'passageway through said coupling is flared forming a guide 5b. I 'Leading' downwardly from the upper end'of the drill collar 4 there is a channel I0 through which a drilling fluid, passing downwardly through the drill stem and through the plunger 'l'and coupling 5, may be deliveredto the cutting tool-,during normal drilling operations.

-There is a guideway H extending downwardly through the shaft [from the upper end thereof Referring now more particularly to the drawwhich diverges downwardly relative to theaxis through -the coupling 5. The inner side of the guidewayll at its lower end is formed with a deflecting face I2.

The upper end of the guideway Ii enlarged der l3, forming a seat. 7

During normal drilling operations an elongated plug 15 is dropped through the .dri" stem, passing on downwardly through the plunger 1 and .being guided by the ,flared face 5b through the coupling 5 into the guideway II. This plug has an enlarged head l6 which fits into the enlarged forming anjnside annular upwardly facing shoulupper end of theguideway H and closes the same and lands on the. seat J3. The drilling fluid will thu'sbe forced to pass downwardly through the channel In to the drill under the required pressure. When it is desiredto take a core, or sample, the plug I5 may beremovedby means of a conventional fishing tool which may be engagedoverthe enlarged upper end II of the stem 18 which, upstands from the head l6. This fishing tool may be operated by a cable in the well known .wall of the bore.

manner.

Upon removal of the plug the sample taking any-selected formation to readily penetrate the The sample receiving barrel should be equipped .with any suitable type of core catcher or sample retainer such as 2|; The upper end of the barrel I9 is equipped with a coupling 22 having the outlets 23, 24 controlled by a back pressure valve 25 normally held closed by a spring 26 but adapted to yield as the sample entersthe barrel to permit the escape of air or other-fluid in the barrel. The numeral 21 designates a tubular stem and between the stem 21 and barrel I9 there is a tubular pipe section 28.

This section 28 is connected; at one end to the coupling 22 and at its other end to the lower end of the stem 2T. These connections are formed by the upper and lower links 29, 30. The

link 29 is pinned, at its respective ends; to the stem 2.! and the section 28, the connecting pins being at right angles to each other touform a universal connection and the link 30 is .pinned to adjacent .ends of the coupling 22 and the section 28, the pins being at right angles to.form a universal connection. The sample taking unit shown inFigure 7 is thus made flexible.

Attached to the upper end of the stem .21

there is a tubular head 3| whose upper endis enlarged forming the downwardly facing shoulders 32.. The assembly. above described and shown in Figure '7 may be dropped from the ground surface through the drill stem and will pass through the tubular plunger I and through the coupling 5. The passageway through the plunger 1 is enlarged at its upperend forming said lower ends apart and the upper ends of the an annular upwardly facing shoulder 33. The: enlarged upper end of the head 3| will fit into the enlarged upper end ofthe passagewaythrough the plunger and the shoulder 32-will land on the shoulder 33- as shown in Figure 8. In. this position the core barrel or sample receiving barrel l9 will be located within the guideway II as also shown in Figure 8. The head 3| 118.8181 trans- .verse slot 34 therethrough in which is located the latches 35, 35; which arepivoted on the pin 36. Between the lower ends of the latches there is a pressure spring 31 which'normally holds latches in extended or outer position as shown in Figure 7-. As the head 3| passes through the plunger the upper ends'of thelatches will he forced inwardly to permit such passageand the .spring 31 yielding for. that purpose. When the upper or free ends of the latches clear the lower end of the plunger,-the spring 31 will force' the A lower ends of the latches apart thus moving the upper ends of thelatches. outwardly into 'engagenient withthe lower end of the plunger as'shown .in Figures 8 and 9. The plunger will thus be "locked to the head.

The plunger 1 has 'the vertical channels 38' therethrough whose upper ends merge into an annular seat-3|! in the upper end of-the'plunger and an annular valve 40 is shaped .to fit into said seat 39 'to-clo,s'e the channels 38; Attached to the valve and depending therefroinand working through suitable bearings in 'theplungen .largement 53 thereon.

" In order to remove the sample taking apparatus from the drill stem, a grappling tool may auras?! there are the push rods 4l '4l whose lower ends wardly turned. On the pushrods 4| are the stops 42. Coil springs 43 surround the rods 4| and are interposed between said stops and the ring nuts 44 which are screwed into the lower. -end of the plunger and which have bearings through which the rods 4| extend. The lower end of'the coupling 2 has an annular seat 45 countersunk therein with which the valve 40 contacts when the plunger'is in its upper position as shown in Figure 1. The valve 40 and seat 45 may be formed of. suitable resilient material so as to form aclose fitting joint between them when in contact witheach'other.

When the sample taking, or core'taking assembly is dropped into/position as shown in Fig- .ure 8, pressure may be applied against the upper end of the plunger 1. This pressure will usually be applied by the application'of. drilling fluid from a pump-at the ground surfacedown.

through the drill stem I; it will force the core taking assembly downwardly into the position shown in Figure 9, .the spring 9 yielding to per- 'mit"this. .The barrel is will be deflected by the deflecting face I2 outwardly and will pierce the side wall of. the bore as indicated in Figure 9 and a sample of said side wall will enter the barrel J9 and will be trapped therein by the catcher or trap 2|. Upon downwardmovement are extended beneath the plunger and are in- 2 of the plunger theinwardly turnedfends ofthe -'rods 4| will engage the upper end of .the extension in and, as the plunger moves on down, the valve 40, will be held stationary thus open-.

-ing the passageways 38.. This is desirable for --the-reason that before removing the core taking'apparatus from the drill stem, the drill stem must be elevateda suflicient distance to permit the breaking out and removal of the grief pipe at theupper end of said stem. The drill stem at this time is filled with drilling fluid and upon such elevation, the drilling fluid above the plunger may fiow down through the passageways 38 so that it will notbe necessary ,to lift the entire weight of the'columnjof drilling fluid with-' in the drill stem upon such elevation of said stem.

As hereinabove stated, the head 3| is tubular. A latchactuator 46; is fitted downwardly through said head and its lower end is formed with spaced fingers "as4'l whichiembrace thelatches. The

latches have the upwardly diverging slots 48,

48 trade. cross pin-4.9 is anchored to said fingers and extends through the slots 48. The ,latch actuator is formed with a valve 50 thereon'which V normally seats in the seat 5| in the upper end of the head 3| so as to form a watertight joint therewith and upstanding from the actuator 46 thereis a stem 52 whose upper'endhas thembe lowere'd'by means of, a wire line through the stem and engaged with the enlargement- 52.

Upon upward movement of "the grappling tool,

the pin 49 will firstbe elevated and willoperate to retract the latches 35 and disengage them from the plunger 'I-and thereupo'nithe sample taking T device may'be withdrawn .fromthe' drill stem to the'ground'suriace and the barrel |9 detached for an inspection of, the. sample therein. The

spring 9 will return the-pltingerm 'l .to itsupper position, the springs .43 closing -the valve 40' which will seat'against thefseat as which acts as a bumper and drillingmaybeproceeded',with,.

the drilling fluid passing downwardly throughthe samples from the same sand, the di'ill stem may be partly turned' and the sample taking apparatus again dropped into place and another sample taken. In this manner, samples of a sand formation may be taken from different sides of thebore and the sand thus thoroughly tested before drilling deeper. I

The foregoing description and the drawings are illustrative of one form of the invention,- but the broad principle of, the invention will be'deflned" by the appended claims. What I claim is:

1'. The combination with a tubular driving member for a well drill, having a guldeway therein forming a deflector, of a sample taking device-adapted to be dropped through the driving member and including a sample receiving barrel arranged to be deflected through said guideway into the side wall of a well bore, and

means adapted to closesaid guideway.

, 2. The combination with a tubular driving member for a well drill, having a" deflector, or a support therein, a sample taking device adapted to be dropped through said driving member and to land on said support and including sample entrapping means, said device and support being downwardly movable in response to fluid pressure to cause said entrapping means to be directed, by said deflector, into the side wall of a well bore to entrap a sample thereof.

3. The combination with a tubular driving member, for a well drill, having a deflector, of a support therein, a' sample taking device adapted to be dropped through said driving member and to land on said support and including sample entrapping means, said device and support being downwardly movable in response to fluid pressure to cause said entrapping means to be directed, by said deflector, into the side wall'of a well bore to entrap a sample thereof, and meansfor withdrawing said sample taking device and entrapped sample from the driving member.

4. The combination with a tubular driving member for awelldrill shaped to be lowered into a well and having a guldeway and a yieldin'gly mounted support above the guldeway, of a sample taking device shaped to be dropped through the driving member and to land on said support and including sample entrapping means, said support and sample taking device being downwardly movable in response to fluid pressure exerted downwardly throughthe driving member to ple taking device being movable downwardly in response to fluid pressure exerted downwardly through the driving memberto cause the, entrapping member to be directed by the deflector laterally-from the driving member into-the side wall of the'bore to entrap a sample of the formation of said sidewall.

6; The combination with a tubular drill driving member shaped to be lowered into a well bore,

of ,a'tubular support therein, the yieldableseat sustaining the support, said driving member having a deflector, a sample taking device adapted to be dropped through the driving, member and shaped to landon'the support and including sampleentrapping means, said-support and sample taking device being movable downwardly in response to fluid pressure exerted downwardly through the driving memberto cause" the entrapping member to be directed by the deflector laterally from the driving member into the side wall of the bore to entrap a sample of the formation of said side wall, and means for withdrawing said sample taking device from the driving member. I

v 7. The combination of a tubular driving member for a drill shaped to be lowered into a well boreand having deflecting means and a downwardly movable support, of a sample taking device shaped to drop through said driving member and to land on said support including sa'mple entrapping means arranged to be deflected, by the deflector, into the side wall of the bore to entrap a sample thereof upon further downward movement of the support and sample taking device.

s. The combination of a tubular driving memher for a drill shaped to be lowered intoa well bore and having deflecting means and a downwardly movable support, of a sample taking device shaped to be dropped through said driving member and to land on said support including sample entrapping means arranged to be deflected, by the deflector, into the side wall of the bore to entrap a sample thereof upon furtherdownward movement of the support and sample taking device, said support having a liquid passageway therethrough,.means normally closing said passageway and means adapted to open said passageway upon further downward movement of said support. i

9. The combination of a drill bit for drilling a well bore, and a tubular driving member secured in driving relation to said bit to drive the same, said driving member being adapted to be lowered into said bore, of a sample taking device adapted to be dropped through said driving member and to be projected laterally therefrom into the wall formation of the bore and having means thereon for entrapping -asample of said formation.

10. The combination of a drill bit for drilling a well bore, and a tubular driving member secured in driving relation to said bit to drive the same, said driving member being adapted to be lowered into said bore, sample entrapping means shaped to be lowered through the driving member and projected laterally therefrom into the wall or the bore to entrap a sample of the wall formation.

11. 'A sample taking device comprising a tubulardriving member for a drill shaped to be low-. ered into a well bore and having a lateral guideway, a sample entrapping means shaped to be dropped through said driving member and to be directed by said guideway into the wall of the bore to entrap a sample of the wall formation, said sample entrapping means being withdrawable through the driving member, and means adapted to close said gmdeway.

12. The combination of a driving member for a drill, having a fluid passage therethrough, and an outwardly diverging guideway leading from said passage, means for sealing said guideway fromthe passage, core taking apparatus adapted 4. were to be moved through said guide way the wall of ,a well bore.

13. The combination of a driving member for, a, drill having a. fluid passage therethrough and having aguideway diverging outwardly from said passage, means for closing said guideway whereby drilling fluid will'be excluded therefrom, and a samplereceiving device adapted to be dropped through the driving member and including a sample receiving barrel arranged tobe deflected through said guideway. v

- 14.,The combination of a driving member for a drill having a fluid passage therethrough and vhaving a guideway diverging outwardly from said passage, means for closing said guidewaywhereby drilling fluid will be excluded therefrom, and

a sample receiving device adaptedto be dropped through the driving memtier and including a sample receiving barrel arranged to be deflected through said guideway and said device being also adapted to seal said passage and guideway whereby fluid will be excluded therefrom.

a 15. The combination of a. drill bit for drilling a well bore, and a'tubular' driving member secured in driving relation to said bit to drive the.

same, said driving member being adapted to be lowered into said bore and extending to the ground. surface, of a sample taking device adaptq ed to be'dropped through said driving member JOHN MCCLINTON. 

